YES! You can iron your silk clothing and accessories, and NOT be afraid to do that.

Today, I’m going to teach you how to do that safely and effectively.

I’ve had something on my mind in recent months…what can I contribute to the Curly/Wavy hair community that has been so incredibly generous with their time, skills, efforts, content, posts, etc.? I have learned so much from so many people – and, yes, I do share the wealth of knowledge, including lots of things I’ve figured out on my own. But, I wanted to bring something of value to the table.

I have noticed many of you are very conscious of what you spend on products, accessories, and tools. As you should be – you can easily invest a small fortune in products you many only use once, or a handful of times: because someone recommended them, you know they are widely used by the curly hair community, or because you simply wanted to give it a try.

One of the most important things we can do as we travel through this curly journey is protect our hair while we sleep. This is actually true for ALL hair types. Sleeping on silk is also much better for you skin, and it feels amazing! Silk pillowcases, scarfs, scrunchies…and the list goes on and on…and it’s not cheap! I recently purchased pillowcases for my great nieces, and was choking a little on the prices I was finding for what, essentially, was a very simply sewn fabric…I don’t know much about the garment industry, but sheesh. I did find some options in my budget, finally, on Amazon.

That excruciating search brought the idea to mind that I can’t be the only one who is either unable, or unwilling, to pay what seems to be a standard price for silk products. I love thrift shopping, and so I went with my sweet friend, NashvilleNita (you can find her on PoshMark), and decided that my main focus will be on locating silk for your hair. Scarves, pillowcases, etc…whatever I can find that I can offer to you at very affordable price. I will, also, through in a little satin as well if it feels smooth & high quality enough. Though, I didn’t have much luck on this recent excursion, I did find two items for you that I’ll be offering for sale on PoshMark soon. Possibly by the end of the day, but certainly by the end of the week.

Enough backstory? Ok…let’s gett to it!

You can read the how to, OR just jump down to the video and watch instead!

Please check check my PoshMark Closet to see if scarves are available.

Gather Your Supplies and Let’s Iron Some SILK!

Let’s get your silk ironed! First, don’t be afraid! Our goal is wrinkle free, without risk of scorching the silk. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Iron
• Distilled Water in your iron, and in a mister/spray bottle (optional)
• Ironing board or soft surface (a soft towel on a table works just fine)
• A thin, lightweight cloth.

ALWAYS check your garment tags/fabric care instructions before ironing! I am NOT a professional launderer/ironer! If it says don’t iron, DO NOT IRON! A local dry cleaner may be able to help you.

Did you read that? Ok…just checking – I know you know this – but I’m just, you know, covering my butt.

Getting Prepared:

1. Prepare your surface if you do not have an ironing board. If you do, skip this step.

Make sure that you have a sturdy work surface. Spread your towel over any areas where you might be ironing, plus a little extra, to protect your surface. I recommend you have 2-3 layers to your towel.

2. Set your iron to the appropriate settings.

It should be labeled ‘WOOL/SILK’. If not, check with the manufacturer. This setting is cooler than a standard setting you would use for cotton.

3. Spread your item across your work surface.

It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to iron the entire piece at once. I like to work in smaller sections; this helps me focus on the details of each section.

4. Cover the portion of your silk that will be ironed with a lightweight cloth. You’ll want this to extend beyond your ironing area.

I used a thin cotton bar towel. You could use a t shirt or scrap of cotton fabric.

5. Now it’s time to iron! Here are a few tips (You can see what I mean in the video below).

• If you’re having trouble getting wrinkles out, mist a little water on your silk and/or your covering. This will add steam. You can also use the steam button on your iron. Set this to a lower setting.
• Hold down corners with your finger, removing your finger as iron approaches (we don’t want any burns!)
• Iron from the center, toward the edges.
• Take your time, working slowly with firm pressure.
• Never let the iron stand still on your fabric. This can lead to scorching, and can also be dangerous.
• Gently fold your item to store, without pressing edges to avoid excess creasing.

YOU DID IT!

See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?

Let me know in the comments how it went for you!

I hope this simple little post made you NOT afraid of ironing your silk.